Inquest told McFall was losing most of business over fraud allegation

A SHROPSHIRE TEENAGER and her mother were killed just hours after her father was told he was losing most of his business because of an alleged £500,000 fraud, an inquest heard today.

Teenager Frankie McFall fought for her life as she was hit around the head with a rubber mallet.

Her mother, Sue, was killed with what is thought to have been a single blow to the head while she slept.

Hours later Frankie's father Hugh was found hanged at his business unit at St Martins Business Park.

The inquest heard that Mr McFall had his main business contract supplying supermarket flowers terminated with immediate effect just hours before the tragedy.

Stans manager Justin Smart said the supermarket could have lost up to half a million pounds over seven years because of alleged fraud by Mr McFall, who had been warned the company was considering contacting the police.

Coroner Mr John Ellery said the inquest would hear details of a phone call made to police by Mr McFall hours before he was found dead.

Today's inquest in Shrewsbury was told that 18-year-old Frankie was hit around the head five times.

She also suffered other injuries as she tried to defend herself.

The inquest was told evidence suggested the teenager was killed in her own room before she was dragged to her parents' room, where she was discovered lying next to her mother's body.

Mr McFall is believed to have murdered his wife and daughter before killing himself.

Pathologist Doctor Alexander Kolar told the hearing that when the bodies were discovered Frankie was lying on top of the duvet and had heavy blood staining to her hair and face. Dr Kolar said a post mortem showed she had been hit five times with a circular implement which he believed to be a rubber mallet which was found in the master bedroom.

He said Frankie had two other areas of bruising to her right arm where he believes she had tried to defend herself.

He said he had also found bruises to her legs which he believed were caused by being "gripped forcibly".

Both Frankie and her mother had mail ties put around their necks, which Mr Kolar said had not been used to kill them but had been placed there after death.

Mrs McFall's body was found underneath the duvet of the couple's bed with blood around her face and head.

Mr Kolar told the hearing that when he removed the duvet he found a rubber mallet by the foot of the bed.

Mr Kolar told the hearing that although both women were found in the master bedroom it is likely that Mrs McFall could have been killed by the single blow to her head while she was sleeping. The bodies of Mrs McFall and her daughter were found at the family home, in Hampton Road, on February 5.

Pathologists said Frankie could have been asleep in her room when the attack on her started, but was certainly awake when she suffered her injuries and tried to defend herself.

Family members left the room when the grim details were revealed but Mrs McFall's daughter, Nicola Gilham, stayed in the room.

Mr Kolar said both women died from head injuries while Mr McFall, who was found at his business unit in St Martins, died from hanging.

The inquest has also heard how the scene at Hampton Road was captured on a camera worn by one of the first police officers who entered the house.

Computers used by Mr McFall have also been analysed and CCTV sightings of Mr McFall driving his vehicle from Oswestry to St Martins will also be revealed.

Mr Ellery said Mr McFall was called to a meeting with bosses at Stans on February 4.

He said: "This resulted in immediate termination of the contract and the immediate loss of 90 to 95 per cent of his business."

The coroner said that allegations were never tested in court.

By Kirsty Smallman and Iain St John